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Boss: meaning, definitions and examples

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boss

 

[ bɒs ]

Noun / Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

at work

A person who is in charge of a worker or organization.

Synonyms

director, manager, supervisor

Examples of usage

  • The boss was not happy with the team's performance.
  • She reported directly to the boss.
Context #2 | Noun

slang

A term used to refer to someone in authority or control.

Synonyms

authority figure, head honcho, leader

Examples of usage

  • He's the boss around here.
  • She's the boss of her own life.
Context #3 | Verb

slang

To dominate or be in control of a situation.

Synonyms

command, control, dominate

Examples of usage

  • She knows how to boss a room.
  • He likes to boss people around.

Translations

Translations of the word "boss" in other languages:

🇵🇹 chefe

🇮🇳 बॉस

🇩🇪 Chef

🇮🇩 bos

🇺🇦 начальник

🇵🇱 szef

🇯🇵 上司 (じょうし)

🇫🇷 patron

🇪🇸 jefe

🇹🇷 patron

🇰🇷 상사

🇸🇦 رئيس

🇨🇿 šéf

🇸🇰 šéf

🇨🇳 老板 (lǎobǎn)

🇸🇮 šef

🇮🇸 yfirmaður

🇰🇿 бастық

🇬🇪 ბოსი

🇦🇿 rəhbər

🇲🇽 jefe

Word origin

The word 'boss' originated in the mid-19th century as a slang term in the United States. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word 'baas', meaning master. Over time, 'boss' evolved to refer to a person in charge or in control of others. The term has since become widely used in various contexts to describe a person with authority or leadership qualities.

See also: bossily, bossy, emboss.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,948 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.